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India and Russia likely to sign pledges |
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October 3, 2000
NEW DELHI, OCT 2 (UNB/AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India is expected to result in signed pledges against either country joining political or military blocs or participating in armed conflicts against the other, newspapers reported Monday. Putin was arriving Monday night for a three-day visit that includes the signing of a Declaration of Strategic Partnership, whose provisions have not been spelled out. Reporting from Moscow, Indian newspapers and news agencies carried front-page stories Monday saying that Russian officials had said the two leaders would sign pledges to prevent any deterioration in the historical friendly ties that have existed since the Soviet era. India and the Soviet Union signed a Friendship and Cooperation Treaty in 1971 that paved the way for Moscow's help in building Indian power plants and other infrastructure. India sold tea and other products to the vast Soviet market under a barter system. Indian news agencies and newspapers quoted Russian officials as saying the declaration - to be signed Tuesday by Putin and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee - outlines a new character for the relationship between Russia and India. After his arrival Monday night, Putin was scheduled to join Vajpayee for a private dinner, the first meeting of heads of state of the two countries in seven years, since Boris Yeltsin's visit. They were to meet again for talks on Tuesday. Some analysts have said that Vajpayee's warm welcome in the United States last month and U.S. President Bill Clinton's tour of India in March have Russia worried about a westward tilt by the New Delhi government. An Indian agreement not to join any political or military blocs could assuage fears by Russia, already dissatisfied with the expansion of NATO to its borders. The Vajpayee government is seeking Russian support for a permanent Indian seat on the U.N. Security Council and is hoping for a more concrete statement from Putin. In an interview with Indian journalists in Moscow on Sunday, Putin said, "It is important to expand the number of permanent members in the U.N. Security Council and India is a fitting contender." The two countries share a common view of the threat of terrorism, particularly from Islamic fundamentalists. The Russian military is fighting an insurgency in Chechnya and he Indian army is fighting one in Kashmir. Both believe that the Taliban movement in Afghanistan supports the militants. In 1955, Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev appeared to disagree with the United Nations and side with India when he declared that the whole of Jammu and Kashmir were a crucial part of India. Pakistan, whose military governments were friendly to the United States during the Cold War, also claims all of the region. It is not known whether Putin shares that view of the region that has provoked two wars between India and Pakistan. India's government has said that there is agreement with Russia that Pakistan is the source of the terrorist threat, but they have different approaches to the Islamabad government. Vajpayee refuses to speak to Pakistan's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, until the cross-border militancy in Kashmir ands. Putin, however, sent a top aide to Pakistan last week and is believed to be considering a visit. The two leaders are expected to make a joint statement on combatting terrorism. In his Moscow interview on Sunday, Putin said, "Exchange of information, political support and joint decision-making on any manifestation of extremism could effectively weaken international terrorist groups." Newspapers also reported Monday that the Indian government was phoning the 800 members of the two houses of Parliament, and scheduling parliamentary committee meetings in the capital to ensure a full house when Putin speaks on Wednesday. When Parliament is not in session, members are not usually in the capital. Putin is to travel to Agra on Wednesday to see the Taj Mahal, then fly to Bombay for meetings with business leaders and a tour of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center. Although Russia is known to desire India's signature on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the differences on that issue are not likely to stand in the way of Russian help in building two new nuclear power projects in India. India is also expecting to sign agreements to begin importing Russian diamonds for reworking and export, and to expand cultural, scinetific and technological cooperation. India also wants Russia to resume buying Indian tea. The industry has languished since the Soviet deals lapsed. The two countries also have extensive military trade, including a new submarine, tanks and parts for the Soviet-made Migs that make up most of India's air force. |